Actor Martin Githinji, popularly known as Daddie Marto has broken his silence over allegations brought forward by his estranged wife, Koku Lwanga. The actor says he has also filed a suit to curb the continued “tarnishing” of his name.
In June, Ms Lwanga went public, accusing the “Sue & Johnnie” actor of “domestic abuse, neglect and betrayal.”
In his statement, released on Tuesday, the actor reveals he had initially chosen silence in a bid to “keep the peace and to avoid fueling an already painful situation.”
“I have lost my family as I knew it. And that loss has been louder in my heart than anything said about me online. In the past weeks, there’s been noise, stories, labels, opinions,” the actor said in his statement. “And in the middle of that, I’ve tried to stay still(…)all while staying present for my children, my work, and my peace. I chose silence at first, to keep the peace, to avoid fueling an already painful situation, to lead responsibly as a father, a former partner, and a professional.
Given the wide speculations, Daddy Marto now believes silence has done more harm, sharing that “silence has a limit.”
“The accusations have escalated into a daily barrage, some subtle and some direct, with no end in sight. They’ve caused material, professional, and personal harm,” the statement continues. “And while emotional pain can distort memory, when a singular story is repeated and weaponised after attempts at cordiality, it stops looking like a cry for justice and starts looking like malice.”
In the detailed statement, Daddy Marto clarified that he and his former partner separated in December 2024, formally ending the relationship by March 2025. He moved out in April but stayed nearby for their children’s convenience.
In May, they drafted a joint public statement confirming the separation. He maintained that he continued to meet all financial responsibilities, including school fees, household expenses, and medical cover, even after moving out, despite stepping back from work in mid-2024 to complete his ex-partner’s mother’s house, a project he says left him in debt.
He added that when his former partner secured an internship in March 2025 and offered to repay the loan, he asked her instead to contribute to household costs.
Concerning Koku Lwanga’s allegations of abuse, he described returning home with a friend and being confronted at the door, leading to a heated exchange during which he sustained an eye injury. He said he recorded the incident for safety, following advice from a therapist, and acted instinctively to protect himself.
He also expressed concern over what he called a misrepresentation of events in online posts, noting that the matter is now under police investigation.
“Since that night, I have been portrayed in ways that suggest I am violent, abusive, manipulative, and irresponsible. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the statement continues. “In reality, before that night, there had never been a single act, or even a threat, of physical violence between us from either side, nor had there ever been any suggestion or implication of irresponsibility. That distinction matters, especially in a world quick to place people into boxes without knowing the full story.”
He said that he had lost “work, opportunities, partnerships, and relationships” hence his decision to file a suit.
“I have instructed my lawyers to file a suit to stop the ongoing attacks and to seek resolution through legal channels, quietly, respectfully, and conclusively. There is their truth. There is my truth. And then there is the actual truth. Let the courts decide,” he said.
He concluded his statement by making clear it was not about absolution but “about offering context where the story has been one-sided.”
“I remain committed to co-parenting with dignity, to protecting what still matters, even though we could not protect what once was. To friends and family who have respected our privacy, thank you. To those who believe in me and see the full picture of who I am, not just a moment taken out of context, thank you. I will heal privately, even as I live publicly,” the statement concluded.
